I don’t have a problem with that either. I’ve actually supported putting troops on our border with Mexico. This would merely be a spotter service. However, if they spotted cartel members with heavy weapons and drugs, I would support hostile action.

43
posted on 07/31/2012 10:36:31 AM PDT
by DoughtyOne
(Remove all Democrats from the Republican party, and we won't have much Left, just a lot of Right.)

If we're going to do that, we need to give them the tools necessary to be effective (including, as you say, UAS for spotting). At various times we have had coastal artillery, anti-aircraft guns in cities, anti-aircraft missiles around infrastructure ... as long as the militarization is aimed at protecting against foreign invaders, it's well within the limits of what fed.gov should be doing.

47
posted on 07/31/2012 10:44:09 AM PDT
by ArrogantBustard
(Western Civilization is Aborting, Buggering, and Contracepting itself out of existence.)

For me it’s the same as having F-15s roaming around the country looking for trouble. If there is a verifiable threat, then of course they should be up there. Otherwise no.

Training is one thing. Doing work for the EPA or some other government agency over our interior, no.

There’s also the issue of privacy. The government shouldn’t be flying over our citizen’s property spying on them.

If there is a court order due to reasoned concern about a physical threat, then of course there is valid reason to use drones. On general principle though, I do not approve of these drones being able to fly anywhere they want any time they want.

The government has reasonable areas they declare off limits.

My property under normal circumstances is reasonably off limits to them.

49
posted on 07/31/2012 10:46:39 AM PDT
by DoughtyOne
(Remove all Democrats from the Republican party, and we won't have much Left, just a lot of Right.)

Also the infrastructure that supports, assesses, and analyzes experimental aircraft is in the US; it’s much cheaper to test this aircraft at Pax River than fly it and everyone involved to Timbuctu or the South Pole or wherever the drone-phobics think it is acceptable to operate unmanned aircraft.

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